, 1887-04-07
A Government Official Shoots an
EmplOye Out Of Office.
The Commission Grants q Favor
to Southern Railroads.
QUESTION OF INVESTMENT.
WASHINGTON, April 6.--Section

last session of congress author izing an
investigation of the methods OF ac-
counts employed by the bonded
Pacific Railroad companies, proposed
that the sinking funds already invest
ed in United States bonds. might
be invested in land mortgage bonds of
the companies of the Union and Gen.
trail Pacific. The companies recently
applied to the treasurer department
for such investment. The question
was referred to Attorney General
Garland and it was given as an opin-
ion that the secretary OF the treasury Is
not authorized to sell United States
bonds in which funds are now in
vested, for the purpose OF reinvest-
ment In first mortgage bonds of COM
panies, but that he can invest any
money paid into the sinking fund, in
pursuance of the Thurman act, now
in the treasury, or which may in the
future be paid in, in any United
States or in any first mortgage bonds
Of the Union or Central Pacific COM
panies.
THOROUGHLY DISCHARGED.
Indian Commissioner Atkins has re-
ceived the following letter from Indian
Agent T.. G. Osborne at Ponca, Paw
nee and Otoe agencies, Indian terri
tory, under date of April 2, 1887:
"With profound sense OF regret l
have TO report that in discharging yes
terday Il. NJ. Smith, the farmer Mt
Otoe, for general bad conduct upon
the agency, but chiefly because OF his
ungentlemanly temper, which was
continually being turned loose upon
both employees and Indians, / had to
kill him in self-defense. He had re-
peatedly threatened to kill the clerk in
charge, young man who reported his
conduct, and asked that he be dis
charged. l went to Otoe to explain
to him my reasons for discharging
him, to hear his defense, If he had any,
70 pay him his salary for the last quar-
ter, and to dismiss him. While very
calmly performing my duty he made
q violent attack upon the clerk in
charge whom he wounded in the arm,
and then turned upon Mr.. Bustice, the
agency blacksmith, and myself, with
cooked and levelleG revolver and
with the manner of u maniac, when
/ shot him dead. l am
thoroughly convinced that |
saved three lives in taking his and
where it is considered that one Of
those three was my own and the only
one | have, / trust may be exoner-
atcd." Osborne is from Gallitin, Tenn
essee, and has been in charge OF the
agency ever since August, 1850.
Smith WAS one of his own appointees.
BUILDING A NAVY.
The secretary of the navy to-day in
vited sealed proposal from shipbuild-
ers of the United States for building
five new war vessels. The first OF
these vessels for construction of which
bids are solicited is the Newark 1000. ton
cruiser, authorized to be built by the
act of March 3rd, 1887. Proposals
were invited for this vessel last year
but the lowest bid exceeded the limit OF
cost (S1 100, ,O00) named in the act. AT
its last session of congress it increased
the limit to 81 100000. Proposals fol
the construction of this cruiser will be
received from all American shipbuild
ers whose ship yards are fully
equipped for building or repairing
iron and steel steamships
machinery and boilers. The nexi
named in the advertisement are
cruisers Nos. 4 and g. Provisions FOL
their construction il made in the ap
preparation bill, which will go into
effect next July. All OF their parts are
required to be Of domestic manufac
ture and contractors are required tt
guarantee in their case a maximum
speed OF nineteen knots an hour. Fol
every quarter knot OF speed exhibited
above that guarantee the contractor IL
to receive premium OF 5000 Owe
and above his contract price, and TO
every quarter knot deficiency in speed
$4,000 is to be deducted from the con
tract price. Conditions of this are t.
be prescribed by department. In ad
dition to the vessels named proposal
are also invited for building two gun
boats designated as Nos. and d
They are to be LOO tons vessel
of type OF gun-boat " Not,
now building at excelsior works il
Philadelphia, which is regarded as on
of the most formidable sloops of wa
of modern times. In the case of thes
gunboats and of 10 knot cruisers Nos
four and five proposals will be receives
from every American ship builder o
other person who shall show to tn
satisfaction of the secretary Of tn
navy, that within three months fror
date of contract he will be possesse
of the necessary plant for the perfo
nance of the work in the Unite
States which he shall offer to under
take. The evidence there require
must accompany proposal or be sui
mitted to the department in advance
II is also required that one of I'll
vessels shall be built on or near til
coast of the Pacific ocean, or waite